Connacht 45
Saracens 36
An unrelenting Connacht delivered a European thriller in Dexcom Stadium, overcoming English premiership favourites Saracens to proceed in the Champions Cup
It is the first time Connacht have beaten Saracens in four meetings - the English Premiership side having won this tournament on three occasions.
A thrilling encounter from start to finish. The visitors delivered six tries, but Connacht produced seven to take the victory that brought the 12,000 Connacht supporters to their feet.
It was 19-19 at the break, with both sides having taken the lead at different stages., but it was the visitors, who tore into the opening 20 minutes, took control for long periods and put themselves into a 12-0 lead after 12 minutes through tries from Va’eneku in the sixth minute and Cauori in the 12th.
Dominating the exchanges and four successive penalties against Connacht put them into position to score when, from a penalty, influential centre Sione Va’enuku scored from a tap and go, with Owen Farrell adding the extras.
Their physicality put Connacht under the cosh for long periods, and by the 11th minutes Caluori claimed the try from a dominant line-out and maul.
However, Connacht worked hard to gain a foothold on possession, and camped on the line with three successive attempts to maul over, eventually captain Cian Prendergast struck for their opening try after TMO review, with Frawley adding the conversion.
It was a try that awakened Connacht, and by the 24th minute, they had claimed a second with Cathal Forde touching down after superb phase play- Bundee Aki, Dave Heffernan and Darragh Murray all involved. Six minutes later, Lancaster’s men drove forward after a penalty two touch with Shamus Hurley Langton touching down, and Frawley tapping over the extras.
Saracens had their chances and replied before the break with a superb break from Ben Earl. Although a super tackle from Finn Treacy halted the move temporarily, Connacht’s Hurley-Langton was carded, providing the visitors with the opportunity to score. From a tapped penalty Nick Tompkins score before the half-time whistle to level the match 19-19.
A penalty to touch put Connacht in position for the next score. Murray took control of the line-out, with Bundee Aki taking the ball on before finding captain Cian Prendergast, who finished from five metres out.
It put Connacht in front for the first time, with Gilbert striking his sideline conversion perfectly for a 26 -19 lead. However, the visitors wrested control, and immediately hit back with a try from left wing Rotimi Segun, the conversion missed to ensure Connacht tainted a slender lead.
However, Frawley then set the Dexcom alight, delivering a cracker try within a minute, with Gilbert adding the conversion, and Connacht look set for a famous victory.
Saracens continued to carve their chances, but Connacht defended bravely, only conceding in the final minute when fullback Elliot Daly scored. But Connacht were not to be denied.
Scoring Sequence: 6m try Va’eneku try, Farrell con 0-7; 12m Caluori try 0-12;17m Prendergast try, Gilbert con 7-12; 23m Forde try 12-12; 29m Hurley-Langton try, Frawley con 19-12; 40m Tomkins try, Farrell con 19-19. HT 19-19. 47m Prendergast try, Gilbert con 26-19; 50m Segun try 26-24; Frawley try 51m Gilbert con 33-24; 57m Va’eneku try, Farrell con 33-31, 60m Blade try, 38-31, 63m Frawley try, Gilbert con 45-31; Daly try 79m 45-36.
Yellow cards: Hurley Langton (41 );
Connacht: S Gilbert, F Treacy, C Forde, B Aki, S Jennings, C Frawley, C Reilly, F van Wyk, M Victory, S Illo, D Murray, J Murphy, C Prendergast (C ), S Hurley-Langton, S Jansen. Replacements, D Ryan for Jennings (12m ); .
B Bohan for Van Wyk (53m ), E de Buitlar for Victory (55m ), T Connolly for Illo (55-63m ), Blade for Reilly (55m ), J Ioane for Aki ( 62m ); S O’Brien for Jansen (65m ), N Murray for Murphy (65m ).Saracens: E Daly, N Calorie, N Tompkins, S Va’enuku, R Segun, O Farrell, T Williams; E Mawi, J George, M Street, O Sodeke, H Tizard, M Itoke (C ), T Knight, B Eearl. Replacements, N Isiekwe four Sodeke (30m ), P Brantingham for Mawai (50m ); E Clarke for George (51m ); N Michelow for Earl (67m ); Weilbach for Street (67m ), F Burke for S Va’enuku (67m ).
Referee: Pierre Brousset (Fr ).
